Soulby’s stable stay
Soulby the donkey was brought to our member SPANA’s centre in Bamako, Mali with a large lump on the left side of his body that had become red and ulcerated.
Five-year-old Soulby is a vital part of his owner’s life. Just like many of the donkeys living in Bamako, Soulby works in the vast Badalabougou rubbish dump. Starting at sunrise, he works every morning transporting refuse and makes it possible for his owner to earn a small income. Although ongoing civil unrest has made life increasingly difficult and income insecure for many, the Bamako centre thankfully remains open, providing critical care.
Upon examination, the SPANA vet team diagnosed Soulby with sarcoids – non-cancerous tumour-like skin lesions that are quite common in donkeys. They can appear quite suddenly and tend to grow quickly. When sarcoids become ulcerated, they attract flies which can cause irritation and infection. To relieve Soulby of his discomfort and prevent infection, the vets carefully cleaned the wound and determined that Soulby would require surgery to remove the lesions and several weeks of aftercare.
After thorough preparation, the vets administered anaesthesia and successfully removed the lesion, stitching the wound closed afterward. Soulby then spent two weeks resting at the stables under careful watch. During his stay, his wound was monitored and disinfected daily while it gradually healed. By the time of his discharge, Soulby had fully recovered. Soulby’s owner expressed immense gratitude for SPANA’s expert treatment. The team also advised him to stay vigilant for any signs of returning sarcoids, which could potentially appear again.